“Welcome everyone, this is the “sixth edition” of Digital Entertainment World [DEW], we have a fantastic program planned for the next two days, thanks for coming,” eloquently expressed Ned Sherman, Co-Founder of DEW, during opening remark, who also addressed the “tireless work” his wife Tinzar [Sherman] does year-round along with “her team” to make the conference happen and reiterated the “importance of their support” before also thanking the sponsors, “who without we would not be able to put this conference together.”

DEW Expo [logo] (Photo by: Fredwill Hernandez/The Hollywood 360)

“We’re really in an interesting time right now with so much focus and budgets going into originals, as a matter of fact Peak TV reached a new height just this year, with 495 [original scripted, cable, and broadcast series released], that’s more than we’ve seen in the history of television. What’s more interesting about it, it’s the first time that more of the originals that they produced will run on “streaming services” than on traditional broadcast television or cable. This is a real shift in video consumption and [I think] is something that were all going to be part of going forward. We’re expecting the major streaming services Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, and now with the entry of Disney Plus, and at & t’s Warner Media service there are going to be “tens of billions of dollars” to be spent on originals production within the next five years, so were kind of seeing sort of an arms race in this space,” expressed Sherman, before asking the creators’ community in the room to “think about” the kind of deals they could [probably] eventually be making going forward.

“According to the Boston Consulting Group over the next five the five years we’re also going to see a shift of about 30 billion dollars in profit going from traditional broadcast to streaming services, so the people involved in the streaming eco-system are going to see a lot profitability in the coming years. The “second thing” on my mind, you might of heard about ex Reddit CEO, [Elle K. Pao’s — Dec 26, 2018], tweet about web analytics being “fake,” this raised some serious questions, there’s been a lot of debate of what’s going on with web and mobile metrics. According to the Advertising Bureau global advertising is on pace to surpass 100 billion dollars for 2018, and close to two-thirds or roughly 63 percent coming from mobile and 73 percent coming from the top 10 digital media companies, of course led by Facebook, and Google, it’s something to be thinking about,” also expressed Sherman during his opening remarks. “Finally, I want to leave you with some thoughts on where I think the future “might” be heading from a creators’ standpoint, I think the future is multi-platform, social, immersive, and experiential.”

Sherman’s [future] predictions were quickly confirmed in a company named Roblox’s opening presentation.

“Roblox is this amazing platform that is really a creative gaming platform and over 80 million kids [last month] got together and played games with their friends. And what’s important about this is the games themselves were created by kids,” eloquently explained Chris Misner, President of International, Roblox, during his Younger Generations Transforming the Future of Entertainment presentation. “Free wins, this may sound old and repetitive and it is, but it’s remarkable how often people forget it and particularly for this demographic. Free wins because [one], it’s convenient, there’s low barriers, and [two] in this entertainment world were you have many choices, a surplus of content, as Ned pointed out, you really cannot put this hey’ wall in front of this demographics.”

As he continued with his presentation on Roblox’s Misner, also explained, “gaming is still social, gaming has always been about bringing kids together to have unstructured experiences with their friends, [and] that’s critical,” and “because it’s social, cross-platform is expected among this demographic. It just seems dumb to them they can’t play with a friend who has a different device.”

“As to what is not “well understood” is that players also want to “create,” this is an important trend Roblox is taking advantage of and others are starting to as well. There’s a lot of implications with user entertainment. Last year 16 million games were published on Roblox by the player community, there’s been 50 million [games] published on our platform, that’s a lot of content out there,” also explained Misner. “What we get in our echo system is just “diversity” and a type of content you wouldn’t [really] find coming thru professional studios run by adults,” and “it’s not about a virtual experience, these are real emotions, these are real friends, these are real experiences and that’s the core of this. When you think about the future of entertainment, it’s not so different from the past, it’s always been about the creative people like you in this room, imagining developing world’s that create real engagement, real experiences, real life lessons, so the future of entertainment is a lot like the past, we just have different tools, that’s what Roblox believes.”

Following Roblox’s presentation was also another “very interesting” [opening] presentation looking into the future, [strategically programed by Sherman] on how a company named Soul Machines has been using Artificial Intelligence [powered by IBM’s Watson Assistant] to create avatars [digital humanoids] using brain models to synthesize human behavior in real time, and charge annual subscriptions fees based on factors such as the number of personalities and languages, as well transaction fees that vary with the number of conversations.

“We’re building what we call a Human Operating system for Artificial Intelligence [AI], and if we’re going to spend a lot of our time talking to machines they should be more like us, to do that we’ve built a digital brain we are pioneering, the next niche of AI, we call “experiential learning,” [which is] the way we [human beings] learn as we go through life,” explained Greg Cross, Chief Business Officer [& co-founder], Soul Machines. “So what we’re all about is in this future turning digital experiences into human experiences, communicating face-to-face…our future is going to be very [heavily] influenced by the way we learn to collaborate between humans and machines…literally putting a face on technology, putting a [human] face on AI.”

“What does that mean for you guys,” asked Cross, “It means you’re going not just from being content makers, but you’re being able to become connection creator’s, you’ll have the ability to create one-on-one interactions with fans, connecting brands with fans in ways that aren’t possible today.”

The expo also addressed the intersection between [traditional] celebrities and influencers, [and the “importance” of the Gen Z generation] in among others, The View From the Top: Power of Creativity and Influence panel.

“For the audience that Awesomeness’ targets, that Gen Z, young adult audience, famous is famous, for what we really see — digital stars, traditional celebrities they all have the same “draw and appeal” to our audience. What we’re really in tune to, we were the early adaptors in this space is the power of digital influencers to market their own content and creations, so were always trying to tap into their creativity and their power with the audience. [So] for our audience, that creator is the same star that maybe for my generation the movie star was, so were always looking to copulate our projects with people who have relevance in the social media space. They may have come up through Youtube or Vine, or Instagram, or maybe the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon, we were always looking at how to reach the audience to market our projects and certainly having a [really] strong presence there, is really important because that’s where our audience is consuming content,” explained Shelley Zimmerman, Co-Head, Awesomeness.

Gen Z account for the largest segment of the world’s population at 26 percent. Ninety-two percent go online every day—and 24 percent say they are online “almost constantly,” according to fairygodboss [.com].

Market research according to Nielsen shows that 85 percent of Gen Z learns about new products on social media and are also 59 percent more likely than older generations to connect with brands on social, too.

According to a “Gen Z facts for marketers” [report] by Mediakix, Gen Z’s account for $830 billion per year in the U.S., covering 6.8% of total U.S. consumer spending each year.

95 percent of Gen Z’s [owns] and has a smartphone, and over half [55 percent] of Gen Z’s use their smartphones “5 or more hours a day” and over a quarter [26 percent] use their phones “10 or more hours” a day according to The Center for Generational Kinetics.

In U.S. alone, there are 65 million of them. By 2020, Gen Z will account for 40 percent of all consumers in the U.S. according to Vision Critical, in partnership with research firm MARU/VCR&C’s study which also pointed out that as more people from Gen Z enter the workforce, their “influence and impact” in the business world will only grow, so to prepare for the future, companies should start building a relationship with Gen Z consumers now. The brands that have timely and accurate understanding of Gen Z are poised to win the business of these young consumers today and in the years ahead.

“The pie, meaning the amount of time on Youtube for this younger generation is constantly growing too. So, its not just this creator is taking away from this other creator, I think what is also happening is the amount of time on mobile, the amount of time on Youtube is constantly growing, maybe sort of what were seeing with this younger generation, these are the linears, so there might be time for them to watch everywhere [on all platforms],” added Awesomeness’ Zimmerman.

During the DEW Expo, other interesting facts regarding Gen Z were pointed out.

“Gen Z’s are expecting brands to care about making this world a better place as much as they do. They expect brands to contribute to a positive change to the world, they expect brands to help make the world a better place, they are more willing to embrace and support brands that have the same vision, values, and mission that they do, and more than “half” are willing to spend more on a brand that takes a stand vs. a brand that stays [per se] on the sidelines. So what does that mean for brands and content creators, Z’s will expect you to stand for something and the guard rails here, that doesn’t mean to stand up for anything, make sure to stand for something, not against something,” explained Jayne Chameski, Founder, Front Row Insights and Strategy during her [creators/influencers] presentation.

“Cultural relevance is not something that’s easy to achieve, you have to have a real close on society, you have to understand what matters to your audience, what they want and care about. So we believe that when you combine “emotion resonance” with “cultural relevance” in an authentic way it really triggers something in consumers that has a long lasting effect [since we tend to remember more when we feel something] and these days it’s a place where brands not only “want to be,” but frankly “need to be,” eloquently explained Michal Shapira, SVP of News Content Partners, Turner Ignite, during her Emotion + Culture: Driving Connection in Brand Storytelling presentation. “It’s not just TV for us, consumption across all platforms has grown 60 percent in the last 5 years, with digital and mobile leading the way.”

Aside from the importance of Gen Z to marketers, brands, and content creators, a question of when is immersive story telling for a brand in AR/VR appropriate [?], was raised.

“If you’re only looking at the CPM [cost-per-mille] is not appropriate, if you’re looking at driving interest and showing your ahead of the curve, and you’re experimenting with new forms of visualization and new storytelling tools, is absolutely appropriate and has been for about five years…is like the same correlation of [like] Youtube influencers vs. Youtube creators, those that really influence the markets are small in numbers, but they can have massive [sort of] appeal, and it doesn’t really tie in to the CPM model,” explained Ted Schilowitz, Futurists, Paramount Pictures, during [The] View From the Top: The X [R] Factor: Creating Immersive Experiences for Entertainment panel. “It’s kind of the thing that a lot of people really “don’t want to hear” and I tell people that this medium is no different than any other medium, meaning almost everything that gets made “will fail,” it will not find an audience, be monetized, [or] that it may not have any sort of value other than the creator’s inspiration, [the] creator’s experimentation and learning, and just like movies, music, television, books, [or] art in any set form, a tiny [tiny] fractions finds an audience, becomes a sensation, becomes a hit. The idea that this medium [AR/VR] is any different than that is a “missed calculation,” and the fact that there’s so much “invested in it,” of people putting all these dollars and time in it, just because they’re doing it – they think they’re going to win, more than likely they are going “to lose.” And there will be a few winners which happens in every creative medium and some of those winners will be so wildly successful over time that they will make the medium sustainable and viral, and we are starting to scratch a little tiny bit on the first micro hits that give us cause, [that] gives us sort of a cense that at some point this is going to be “extraordinary valuable” to a large number of people, but even that large number of people is a tiny [tiny] fraction of the larger number that are dependent. And I think that’s just something you have to sort of become aware that, that’s the reality of any type of medium.”

]]>http://thehollywood360.com/soul-machines-ai-digital-humanoids-tech-shines-during-sixth-ed-dew-expo-as-sherman-predicts-the-future/feed/047747BASIC Magazine & H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party with Absolut Elyxhttp://thehollywood360.com/basic-magazine-h-e-r-pre-grammy-party-with-absolut-elyx/
http://thehollywood360.com/basic-magazine-h-e-r-pre-grammy-party-with-absolut-elyx/#respondSun, 10 Feb 2019 21:34:46 +0000http://thehollywood360.com/?p=47697On Friday evening, BASIC Magazine threw an intimate pre-Grammy party at the private residence of Jonas Tahlin, CEO of Absolut Elyx, to celebrate 5-time Grammy nominee H.E.R.
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: H.E.R. attends Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: H.E.R. attends Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: H.E.R. attends Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)

R&B artist H.E.R., nominated in 2019 for 5 Grammy Awards including Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best R&B Album of the Year, arrived wearing a black printed jumpsuit high patent black heels.Issues of the latest BASIC magazine were scattered throughout the exquisitely designed private home, which feature H.E.R. in an 8-page spread.

Guests sipped on specialty cocktails by Absolut Elyx, all appropriately named after H.E.R. hit songs and albums including, “Breakthrough,” “Lights On,” and her favorite, the “Anti-Star”, which is made with Absolut Elyx, coconut liqueur, pineapple syrup, lime juice, ginger juice, and champagne.

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Jake Miller attends Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)

Jake Miller
arrived early in the evening with a group of friends and was seen at the bar laughing and enjoying drinks.
Snow Tha Product arrived and was seen in all black with a white off-the-shoulder jacket. The ever-stylish
Lady Victoria Hervey looked head-to-toe flawless in a slim fit black leather dress.
Shamier Anderson and Stephan James chatted with H.E.R. inside at the Mermaid Bar. BASIC magazine Publisher & Editor-in-Chief,
Viktorija Pashuta,and BASIC CFO & Partner, Jackson Chong,were spotted mingling with their latest BASIC magazine subject. H.E.R.

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Stanaj, H.E.R., and Ty Dolla $ign at the Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut ElyxLOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Jake Miller (C) attends Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Snow Tha Product (L) and Stanaj attend Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: (L-R) Shamier Anderson, H.E.R. and Stephan James at the Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut ElyxLOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: (L-R) Lisa Wayne, BASIC Magazine founder and Editor-in-Chief Viktorija Pashuta, Jesse J and BASIC Magazine CFO, Producer and Partner Jackson Chong attend Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Mariana attends Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)

Just after 11pm, H.E.R. and her band took to a makeshift dance floor in the decadent Martini Room as guests sang along to their jams and swooned to the tunes of her hit track “Focus”.
Stanaj grabbed the mic to sing along with H.E.R. in the middle of the crowd, watched by
Ty Dolla $ign, Jermaine Dupri, and others.

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: H.E.R. performs during Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: (L-R) BASIC Magazine CFO, Producer and Partner Jackson Chong, H.E.R. and BASIC Magazine founder and Editor-in-Chief Viktorija Pashuta attend Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: (L-R) Alex Wilson, H.E.R. and Agnes Wilson attend Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)

Leave it to BASIC magazine to throw yet another amazing party that guests will talk about until the next one…

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Sashain (L) and Mariana attend Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Lady Victoria Hervey attends Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Snow Tha Product and H.E.R. at the Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut ElyxLOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Slim Keskes (L) and Dawn Miller attend Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)

BASIC MAGAZINE

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: BASIC Magazine founder and Editor-in-Chief Viktorija Pashuta attends Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)

BASIC Magazine is a quarterly luxury fashion publication that features carefully curated content with a strong independent voice. Based in Beverly Hills, BASIC Magazine
offers Limited Editions of its exquisite collectible print copies that grace the Newsstands in fashion capitals worldwide. Each editorial page is inspired by a blend of heroic artists, visual masterpieces and themes of strength that set the tone for each stylistic
issue. It highlights a contemporary, elegant and inviting world that men and women can both relate to and aspire to be.

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: H.E.R. (L) and Dawn Miller attend Basic Magazine and H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party at the Private Residence of the CEO of Absolut Elyx on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for Absolut Elyx)

ABSOLUT ELYX:

Absolut Elyx is the new definition of luxury vodka, built on the principles of quality, integrity and true craftsmanship. Every drop is made with soft winter wheat
from a single estate, in Åhus, Sweden. Absolut Elyx is manually distilled in a 1921 copper rectification column, removing all impurities and resulting in the silky smooth Elyx Vodka. Jonas Tahlin, CEO of Absolut Elyx, and his team are knowledgeable to oversee
the century-old distillation process that has been passed down through generations of Swedish vodka-makers. Absolut Elyx has join forces with Water For People to drive awareness and support for long-term solutions to the global water crisis. Through their
partnership, Water For People will provide one week of safe water to more than 100,000 people worldwide for every copper purchase in the Elyx Boutique. In just one year, Elyx has already provided approximately 20,000 people with access to safe water for generations
to come. Discover more at ElyxBoutique.com and on Instagram @AbsolutElyx

Note: There is a widget embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's widget.

]]>http://thehollywood360.com/basic-magazine-h-e-r-pre-grammy-party-with-absolut-elyx/feed/047697‘Dance into the Desert’ Debut by Heather Gruber Brings Upbeat Tone to LA Storieshttp://thehollywood360.com/dance-into-the-desert-debut-by-heather-gruber-brings-upbeat-tone-to-la-stories/
http://thehollywood360.com/dance-into-the-desert-debut-by-heather-gruber-brings-upbeat-tone-to-la-stories/#respondSat, 09 Feb 2019 17:19:32 +0000http://thehollywood360.com/?p=47657Heather Gruber has a whimsical style but her debut release “Dance into the Desert” recounts the real experiences of a young musician trying to make it in Hollywood.

The city can chew you up and spit you out, but Heather takes it all in stride, probably because of her gospel music upbringing. You can find the springs in the desert if you look hard enough, the singer-songwriter says.

Heather grew up in the hills of East Tennessee, with her roots deep in mountain folk and southern gospel music. She toured with her grandparents in a southern gospel trio when she was a child.

But she is realistic about her work. She studied Music Business with a concentration in percussion performance at Anderson University in Indiana.

The year after college, she went on a mission trip to India where she realized life on the road trying to make it as a musician in California would be easy in comparison to life on the streets of India.

Her music captures the feelings that are common to many people: Hope for better things, pleasure in simple days and the wonder of what tomorrow may bring.

Heather Gruber keeps a sunny attitude with ‘Dance into the Desert’ – Image by Heather Gruber

With an indie-folk singer-songwriter style, Heather’s music is an outstanding collection of heartfelt music. The new album details her evolution from young lady with a dream to working musician and it is a wonderful collection of living lessons for all listeners.

Dance into the Desert Producer: Heather Gruber Track List:

Beauty Outside the Lines

Here You Go Again

Ready or Not

Running on Empty

Lost in Space

Lost My Halo

How Do You Feel About Now?

Let it Fly

Perfect Day

Dancing on the Edge

Letting Go

Stepped Outside

What’s so Good About Being Young?

]]>http://thehollywood360.com/dance-into-the-desert-debut-by-heather-gruber-brings-upbeat-tone-to-la-stories/feed/047657American High Uses Music To Bring Awareness to Newshttp://thehollywood360.com/american-high-uses-music-to-bring-awareness-to-news/
http://thehollywood360.com/american-high-uses-music-to-bring-awareness-to-news/#respondSat, 09 Feb 2019 16:17:30 +0000http://thehollywood360.com/?p=47653American High sings about the issues that the newspapers and journalists used to cover.

Today, in the absense of such mundane platforms, people have to rely on musicians and performers to bring awareness to injustices that plague the common man.

The new album, U.N. Article 14 by Sacramento punkers American High serves that purpose only with a good beat. Influenced by 1960s-era garage music runs the range from surf style to straight ahead rock, but elevates and enlightens. American High has put together a truly one of a kind recording with U.N. Article 14.

“We think songs are more interesting when they can be seen in different ways,” the band says. “We shun the tired INTRO-CHORUS-INTRO-CHORUS-LEAD-CHORUS-EXIT blueprint. We prefer freeform songs. We tried to make each song completely unique. With a totally different sound for each.”

They sum up their music as: “Weird chords with weird changes, weird blueprints, weird harmonies and backwards leads. Happy singers singing dark songs of love lost, the costs of constant war, and a scream into the night. WAKE UP! Every dime this record generates goes to the SFBFS. Feed the hungry, shelter the vulnerable, teach those yearning to learn.”

The lead video which got a lot of notice is for the ska-style track “Cheye Calvo” video, which recently won the PureM Music Awards for Best US Music Video. The song is also in rotation on BBC6. Watch at Youtube.

We’re not sure why these great musicians keep their identities undisclosed — perhaps for their own safety — but regardless this is music worth a second and a third play. Band members are: D.T.(rhythm guitar), E.S.(lead guitar), F.M. (Bass), T.M. (drums).

Production: American High produced the record. The album was recorded and mixed by Joe Johnson of Pus Cavern Studios in Sacramento.

ABOUT THE GRAMMY MUSEUM
Established in 2008 as a partnership between the Recording Academy and AEG, the GRAMMY Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the history and significance of music. Paying tribute to our collective musical heritage, the Museum explores and celebrates all aspects of the art form—from the technology of the recording process to the legends who’ve made lasting marks on our cultural identity. In 2017, the Museum integrated with its sister organization, the GRAMMY Foundation®, to broaden the reach of its music education and preservation initiatives. As a unified organization, today, the GRAMMY Museum fulfills its mission of making music a valued and indelible part of our society through exhibits, education, grants, and public programming.

ABOUT MUSICARES
A friend and ally of the music community, MusiCares was established by the Recording Academy to safeguard the health and well-being of all music people. A four-star charity and safety net in times of need, MusiCares offers confidential preventative, recovery, and emergency programs to address financial, medical, and personal health issues. Through the generosity of our donors and volunteer professionals, our dedicated team works across the country to ensure the music community has the resources and support it needs.

ABOUT EBAY FOR CHARITY
eBay for Charity enables members of the eBay community to connect with and support their favorite charities when they buy or sell in the U.S. and abroad. Sellers can donate up to 100 percent of the proceeds to a charity of their choice, while buyers can add a donation to their purchase during checkout. To date, nearly $912 million dollars has been raised for charity by the eBay community. Visit eBay’s For Sellers, For Nonprofits and My Causes pages to learn more about how you can work with eBay to support a good cause.

ABOUT MATCHFIRE AUCTIONS
Since 2001, Matchfire Auctions has executed over 700 high-profile cause marketing campaigns, resulting in over $65 million raised for causes worldwide. These campaigns, launched globally to large and diverse communities on eBay and social networks, have built brand awareness and goodwill for over 400 of the world’s best known brands, celebrities, agencies and charities. For more information, please visit: www.MatchfireAuctions.com

]]>http://thehollywood360.com/grammy-museum-and-musicares-announce-2019-grammy-charity-online-auctions-grammy-week-edition/feed/047631Chris Lastovicka to Release Classically Modern Album ‘Fortune Has Turned’http://thehollywood360.com/chris-lastovicka-to-release-classically-modern-album-fortune-has-turned/
http://thehollywood360.com/chris-lastovicka-to-release-classically-modern-album-fortune-has-turned/#respondThu, 07 Feb 2019 07:30:58 +0000http://thehollywood360.com/?p=47468Chris Lastovicka has created music for the ages with the soon-to-be-released album Fortune Has Turned.

If the first two singles of the record, “The 7th Chapter of Job (Remixed)” and “The End of Tyranny (Remixed)” are any indicators, listeners are in for a magnificent aural experience when the album is released in April (Ahari Press).

The accolades for the young producer-composer are impressive. Lastovicka was one of ten composers selected for New York City Opera’s Vox: Showcasing American Composers festival (2007), was selected as one of 4 finalists in the Opera Vista International Chamber Opera Competition (Houston, TX) and was commissioned by Robin Becker Dance to write the music for “Into Sunlight”, a work about the Vietnam War that has been performed internationally.

“Fortune Has Turned” is a rich, modern classical piece that possesses a regal and intangible quality. In our hurried lives, selectivity is the key to music enjoyment. And from among all the good music out there today, Lastovicka has created a work that is worthy of the listeners’ precious time. “The 7th Chapter of Job (Remixed)” demands an attentive listener as the nuances bring out the true highs and lows in this piece.

“The End of Tyranny” starts with a simple piano and strings combo and moves into a demanding and elegant work that can transport anyone into the recesses of deep and thoughtful destinations of the mind.

]]>http://thehollywood360.com/chris-lastovicka-to-release-classically-modern-album-fortune-has-turned/feed/047468Anne Steele Creates New Genre for Lovers of ‘Hip-Pop’ with ‘Made Out Of Stars’http://thehollywood360.com/anne-steele-creates-new-genre-for-lovers-of-hip-pop/
http://thehollywood360.com/anne-steele-creates-new-genre-for-lovers-of-hip-pop/#respondThu, 07 Feb 2019 06:37:16 +0000http://thehollywood360.com/?p=47461Anne Steele’s new 7-song EP Made Out Of Stars encourages listeners to get up and hit the dance floor.

But there’s more to this collection than meets the ear.

Inspired by Whitney Houston and Barbra Streisand, Steele takes original pop music and gives it a cabaret-dance club flavor in a live setting.

In a novel collaboration with Nash Overstreet and Shane Stevens, Steele takes what used to be known as club music and brings it to new levels. Her youthful voice and upbeat songs can hold their own with the best of the pop stars today.

Made Out Of Stars opens with the future hit “Obsessed,” which is reminicent of New Edition’s 1984 hit “Cool It Now” only with a feminine flair.

“Better” has an electronic sound that appeals to the R and B and “Hip-Pop” crowd and tells the tale of aspiring to more devotion, adoration and love. Steele may have created an entirely new genre with the fun song.

But one of the notables of the record is the remix of “Love Can Take Us There,” a fun disco-like tune reminiscent of Bananarama when they were at their heights.

Rachel will be on hand for press photos and interviews at Booth #61920 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, Weds Feb 6th 10am until 12pm.

Known for her impeccable style and as the founder of The McCord List, Rachel was the first choice for LAMO.

Said LAMO Marketing & Digital Director Mark Sweetser, “We are extremely excited for The FN Platform this year as always and having fashionista Rachel McCord with us is the perfect addition to the LAMO team. She exemplifies the message of the brand, exuding style and class and her wholesome approach to the way she lives her life was a welcomed addition to the LAMO message. We look forward to a great 2019 FN Platform experience!”

Rachel is keen to spread the LAMO message to her millions of followers and enthused, “I am really excited to be working with LAMO this year at the FN Platform. I was obviously an instant devotee of their footwear because of their classic style and of course their comfort which I appreciate when I am busy on the go with my day to day meetings and appearances. Of course my tired feet welcome LAMO after hours of wearing high heels on weekly red carpets!” She laughed.

About Rachel McCord:

Rachel McCord is a self made entrepreneur, model, talk show host . Currently producing and starring in the Rachel McCord Show, which helps aspiring talent, entrepreneurs and creatives slay the fame and social media game.

Established in 2013, Rachel founded the The McCord List which was featured in Vogue, Entrepreneur, Forbes, NBC, and Glamour, establishing her as the influential leader in fashion, entertainment, and influence. The McCord List mission is to empower and equip the talented influencers of tomorrow.

About LAMO Sheepskin Inc

Based in SoCal, LAMO launched in 1996. The company became famous for creating comfortable, high quality sheepskin boots. In the years since, the company has grown, taking its SoCal-­‐‑inspired design to every corner of the globe. LAMO has expanded in recent years and operates three successful footwear brands: the LAMO brand, its flagship brand, Oomphies, casually cool footwear made for children, and Somersby—their latest brand of luxurious yet casual slippers. LAMO creates outrageously comfortable slippers, boots, and flats for daily wear. These shoes are available in over 4,000 retail stores around the world, sharing Aussie sheepskin comfort and California style around the globe. Chances are, you’ve seen these brands in Dillard’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and many other retail locations. No matter where you find us, you know that the LAMO name is synonymous with quality.

]]>http://thehollywood360.com/lamo-sheepskin-inc-announce-partnership-with-style-maven-supermodel-rachel-mccord-at-annual-las-vegas-fn-platform/feed/047441Mark Peters Releases Upbeat ‘Sum Of All Parts’ EPhttp://thehollywood360.com/mark-peters-releases-upbeat-sum-of-all-parts-ep/
http://thehollywood360.com/mark-peters-releases-upbeat-sum-of-all-parts-ep/#respondSun, 03 Feb 2019 20:33:48 +0000http://thehollywood360.com/?p=47419Sometimes you just want to work with your friends and in the case of Mark Peters, his friends happen to be some solid musicians.

Peters has pulled in some of the best local musicians in his part of London to feature on his new EP The Sum of all Parts by Mark Peters and the Dark Band.

‘Spirits’ was released in October 2017 to positive reviews from the International Indie Music Community and drew comparisons to songwriters Iron and Wine, Nick Drake and Ben Howard.

That project led to the creation of Mark Peters and the Dark Band, a four-piece group with Fabian Natter on drums, Martin Burtscher on electric guitar, Markus Manahl on bass and Mark Peters fronting the band on vocals and acoustic guitar. The group is touring Europe since the release of the 4 -track EP Sum Of All Parts.

There is a full-bodied feel to the four-song collection. “Sum Of All Parts,” the title track is a romantic tune that conveys that we are not alone and the key to success sometimes is the combination of two people.

“Failure Is My Friend” indicates we need to accept the down times as well as the good times and it inspires in that we can come out of the dark times. “Bone Dry” has a modern feel to it and gets the toes tapping. “Highs and Lows” captures the positive and the lesser times and expresses a comaraderie that we all have in common.

]]>http://thehollywood360.com/mark-peters-releases-upbeat-sum-of-all-parts-ep/feed/047419“Excelsior! A Celebration of the Amazing, Fantastic, Incredible & Uncanny Life of Stan Lee”http://thehollywood360.com/excelsior-a-celebration-of-the-amazing-fantastic-incredible-uncanny-life-of-stan-lee/
http://thehollywood360.com/excelsior-a-celebration-of-the-amazing-fantastic-incredible-uncanny-life-of-stan-lee/#respondSun, 03 Feb 2019 07:22:56 +0000http://thehollywood360.com/?p=47458Hollywood’s biggest names from the stage, screen and television, along with luminaries from the world of comics and thousands of adoring fans, gathered Wednesday evening at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood to celebrate the life and career of legendary storyteller, Stan Lee. “Excelsior! A Celebration of the Amazing, Fantastic, Incredible & Uncanny Life of Stan Lee” was a fitting tribute to the man many simply referred to as “Stan,” but who was revered as a hero like the many unforgettable ones he created.
Kevin Smith at the “Excelsior! A Celebration of the Amazing, Fantastic, Incredible & Uncanny Life of Stan Lee” on Wednesday, January 30 in Los Angeles x

The historic, star-studded event was attended by dozens of Stan’s closest industry friends, as well as many creators and entertainers who paid respects and shared fond memories of the man who influenced their lives, many since childhood.
Kevin Smith, Mark Hamill, Laurence Fishburne, Seth Green, RZA, Black Eyed Peas apl.de.ap and Taboo, Clark Gregg, Felicia Day, Wesley Snipes, Phil Lord, Amy Pascal, Bill Duke, Wesley Snipes, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, cast members from Marvel’s “The
Runaways,” cast members from FX’s “Legion,” and Fox’s “The Gifted,” were among many who shared personal stories, read Stan’s favorite poetry or performed during the historic tribute.

Kevin Smith, Mark Hamill, Laurence Fishburne, Clark Gregg and Felicia Day at the “Excelsior! A Celebration of the Amazing, Fantastic, Incredible & Uncanny Life of Stan Lee” on Wednesday, January 30 in Los Angeles

Smith said during the tribute, “I knew Stan for 23 years, and one of the most ironic things I thought about today was that he didn’t understand his own genius in this lifetime. This was a man who spent most of his life dreaming of writing the great American novel, and never realized he had done it so many times, over and over again.”

The tribute commenced at the TCL Chinese Theatre forecourt, where fans left flowers, candles and other keepsakes around a memorial centered around Stan’s cement imprint, and signed a book of condolences. Fans were immersed in a world
of Stan through art, including iconic photos, artwork, Stan’s classic comic books and memorabilia also on display, along with a special preview of pop-culture artist Rob Prior’s upcoming gallery show The Legacy
Collection of Stan Lee. Prior completed a live painting in the forecourt and artist Jennifer Contini featured her series “This Love Lives On” featuring images of Stan Lee. Attendees also indulged in one of Stan’s favorite snacks, White Castle, as the
White Castle Crave Mobile served sliders in the forecourt.

Producers of the event, fan-owned Legion M’s Terri Lubaroff and David Baxter, Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment’s Bob Sabouni and Agents of Mayhem’s Darren Passarello, greeted fans and introduced several public speakers before Kevin Smith
arrived and assembled an honor guard of world class cosplayers representing many of Stan’s co-creations, including Avengers, Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, and more who paid their respects and led the crowd in a final salute to this legendary pop culture icon accompanied
by a police band of pipes and drums playing “Amazing Grace.”

Veterans from Veterans in Media & Entertainment and The American Legion of Hollywood Post 43 honored Stan for his service during World War II, and Chief Paul Cell, President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, recognized
Stan’s contributions for his work supporting law enforcement and creating safer communities.

Family from the other co-creators of the Marvel Universe attended to pay their respects and joined in the celebration, including Tracy and Jeremy Kirby, grandchildren of Jack Kirby, Mark and Stephen Ditko, nephews of Steve Ditko, and
Jenna Parker, daughter of Sol Brodsky, all of whom were part of the original Marvel Bullpen.

Actor Laurence Fishburne said, “I was a New York City boy, and Stan was writing about what was outside my window. That was so important because it was about the place
where I was from, and that just opened my eyes to the possibility that you could be so much more.”

Nikki Frakes, director “With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story” remembered a conversation she had with Stan, “I asked him, like he had been asked so many times, what would
your superpower be? And normally he says ‘love’, but that night he said ‘immortality’. Looking out and seeing everyone here tonight I think we all know that he has achieved that immortality in each of us.”

Members of the creative team behind the Academy Award®-nominated “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” including writer/producer Phil Lord and producers Chris Miller, Avi Arad and Amy Pascal were also on stage to honor Stan. Producers
Lauren Shuler Donner and Derek Hoffman rounded off the evening’s panels as they spoke to and celebrated the modern impact of Stan’s characters through two decades of X-Men in film and television.

Former Marvel Studios CEO Avi Arad said, “Marvel was always the standout in storytelling. It was about humanity. People being
friendly, people being frail, people being afraid, and showing us that anyone can be a hero.”

The evening also included discussions with stars from the comics world and Stan’s personal friends, including Marv Wolfman (Blade creator), Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada and Executive VP, Head of Television Jeph Loeb,
artist Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin), and Stan’s business partner at Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment, Gill Champion, its president.

The celebration also featured video tributes from stars who are unable to attend, including Dwayne Johnson, William Shatner, George Takei, and David Tennant, as well as live celebrity performances of Stan’s favorite music and poetry.

The tribute event was produced by Fan-Owned entertainment company Legion M, multi-media company Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment, and production and consulting company Agents of Mayhem. Legion M organized Stan Lee’s hand and foot imprint
ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in 2017. Darren Passarello, Agents of Mayhem founder, worked for Stan for several years. Both companies worked closely with Bob Sabouni, Chief Marketing Officer of Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment. Under the leadership of
Scott D. Williams, CEO, and Gill Champion, president, the company has been and will continue to ensure Stan Lee’s legacy continues on for generations to come.

All net proceeds from the event will go to thenon-profit organization The Hero Initiative, a charity supporting comic book creators,
artists and writers in need. Producers of the tribute event will continue to share memories from the event via social media feeds. Feel free to follow the social channels for Kevin Smith, Legion M, Agents of Mayhem, and Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment. (@TheRealStanLee,
@ThatKevinSmith, @LegionMOfficial, @AgentsofMayhem).